Revolving-cylinder engine.



H. R. PALMER.

REVOLVING CYLINDER ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14. IBM).

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1- I I l IIIII'IIIIIIIIII'I H. R. PALMER.

REVOLVING CYLINDER ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14. 1910'.

$4 4 1?. M 7 Jim-2757' H. R. PALMER.

REVOLVING CYLINDER ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14. mo.

1,159,079, I Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Jim/Emmy COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.,wAsH|NuTON, D. c.

H R. PALMER.

REVOLVING CYLINDER ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I4, 19H).

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4,

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

w a m COLUMUIA PLANOGRAPH CO.,\VI\5HINGT"ON, D.c.

To all whom it may concern HERBERT 1%.,PALM-ER, or'fcLnvnLANi), OHIO, Assierron TO THE eirnoiuo'ron COM-- PANY, or, cnnvnmmn; OHIO, A CORPORATION or OHIO.

1 nnvonvi ie-crtiiinnn I ENGINE.

Be it known that i, HERBERT iii. PALMER,

a citizen of the-United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of 'Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inRevolving-CyL' in'der Engines, of which the followingis a number of pairs of cylinders, the two cylinders comprising each pair being d1ametrically opposite each otherJWVithin the cylinders are pistons,and the'pistonsof each pair are connected by a-cominon piston rod. Each of the piston rods is connectedto a pair of rings which are mounted upon stationary eccentrics, which eccentrics are mounted off center with respect to the power shaft.

The successive explosions of the hydrocarbon mixture within the cylinders forcestheir respective pistons outwardly in'rapid succession; and, through the'connections of the piston rods with the rings mounted upon the stationary eccentrics, the cylinders and tliepower shaft, which,-itwill be reniem bored, is rigidly secured thereto, willbe'rotated together. 1

The vibrations in an engine, constructed and operated as the one herein shown and described, are reduced to a minimum,- and the horse power obtained from an'engine of comparatively light weight iscon'sid'er ably greater than that obtained from; enginesof ordinary construct on.

' In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sideeievation of myengine; Fig. 21s a top plan view; Fig. 3 is'a vertical central section on line 33 of Fig: land looking in the direction of the arrows; "Fig. i is a section on line H of Fig-3, showing the manner in which oil is supplied 'to'the oil ports formed within the power shaft F ig; 5 is a sectional detail showing the construction of the end of one of the shaft portions through whichthe lubricating oil is distributed; Fig. (3 is a section on line 66 of F iv.

5,. showingthe manner in which the oil is Specification of Letters Patent.

tively. y

Journaled within the" boXes 2 and 8' are pateaed Nov. 2, i915;

Application filed Jilly 14, 1910. Serial No. 571,927.

distributed for the lubrication of the vari ous cylinders'froin the longitudinal oil ports within the powerjshaft; Fig. 7 is a central vertical section on an enlarged scale of one of the'cylinders, the same being taken at' i right angles to the section shown in Fig. 3 i Fig. S-is an elevation of the inner end of one of the cylinders; Fig. 9 is a perspective a same being taken on line 10..l0 of'Fig.;;l.

- 'Referring to the various parts by. refer ence characters, 1; represents the engine frame, the same being preferably a rectan gular casting with strengthening flanges depending therefrom, as shown, altho'ughany other suitable frame may be employed] Upon this frame, and near the central portions of theside members thereof, are bolted journal boxes Qand- 3, said boxes, as will be seen from Fig. 3,,being' provided, at their inner ends, wit h eccentrics 4 and respeo respective sections 5-and- 5 'of the. power shaft, the former section being extended" and provided with a key-way for the attachment of ,a pulley or other transmission-member thereon.

6 and 6? are nuts which arethreaded upon the inner ends of'the shaft*sectionsfsaid nuts having arins radiating therefrom. These nuts are clamped orylocked against movement uponthe shaft by lock nuts 7 {and 7 Riveted, or otherwise vsecured, to the radia'tin'g arms of the nuts' 6 'and 6'? are spiders 8' and 8 respectively, said spiders support ing thecylindersh- -The cylinders, as heretofore stated, are arranged in opposed pairs, the cylinders forming one of such pairslbeing shown. in FigJB and being designated 9and' 9*, re-

' spectively. The longitudinal axes of va rious pairs of c'ylinders intersect the longi tudinal axes, extended, ofthe sections 5 and 5': of the power shaft at pointssufliciently separated to prevent thepiston rods interfere Y ing'an'd, to further insureprop'er clearance.

betw'een the":pistonrods, the latter are;: slightly reduced where they pass each other,' I

as is indicated at 9 in Fig.3. Q The cylinders are supported by; the spider's 8 and 8- throughbosses12 and 12%, respectively, that project from the opposite sides of the cylin-- ders; and, to allow for the various positions of the respectivepairs of cylinders and to permit the clearance of their piston rode,

the bosses on the different pairs of cylinders .whereby the cylinders 11 and 11 are supported on the other side of the said central plane. By this arrangement of the respeotive pairs of cylinders, lateral clearance be tween the piston rods is provided.

All of the cylinders are identical in construction, with the exception of the lengths of the bosses 1 2 and 12 and a detailed description of one of the cylinders will suffice for all.

With particular reference to cylinder 9, sections of which are shown in Figs. 3 and 7, it will be seen that the cylinder is of somewhat the same construction as those employed in the two-cycle gas engine. The end of the cylinder nearest the center of the engine which I'will refer to throughout the specification as the inner end, is equivalent to the crank case in a two-cycle engine, as it forms a compression chamber within which the explosive gases for that cylinder are compressed and from which they are forced, through the bypass 13, to the opposite or explosion end of the cylinder. The

by-pass is formed within a casing on the outside of the cylinder, and it communicates with the inner end of the latter through a port 14 and with the outer or explosion end thro'ugha port 15, a screen 16 extending across the by-pass near the port 15 for the purpose of preventing back-firing. A cover 17 is adapted to close an opening within the side of the casing containing the by-pass 13, which cover may be removed for the purpose of cleaning out the by-pass or replacing the screen 16. 18 designates the port through which the mixture is admitted to the compression end of the cylinder, and 19 designates the exhaust port. t

The head 20 for the inner end of the cylinder is .provided with a sleeve portion 21, through which the piston rod 9 is adapted to reciprocate. The inner end of this sleeve is provided with an annular recess 22 to receive packing for the piston rod, and the packing material is confined therein by a follower 23 that is supported by the internally threaded nut 24, which nutis adapted to be screwed upon the inner end of the sleeve. The opposite end of thesleeve is also provided with a packing gland 25. The cylinder head is secured to the cylinders by screws 26 and a projection 27 upon the cylinder head covers the inner end of the casing for the bypass 13.

Each of the cylinders is provided with a piston 30, the same being fitted with proper packing rings 31 and with a deflector 32 that projects outwardly therefrom. An internally threaded boss 33 projects from the center of the inside of the head of the piston, and, within this boss, is screwed the end of the piston rod. The piston. rod of each of the pairs of cylinders will be referred to by the same reference character as that applied to its respective cylinder, but with the exponent Mounted upon the stationary eccentrics t and l are rings 35, 35 36, 36 37 and 3', the same having ball-bearing raceways on their interiors that cooperate with similar raceways on the peripheries of the eccen tries. The rings are provided with journals 35 for the ends of the cross arms that are secured to the piston rods, each ring having one journal, and there being as many such rings as there are opposed pairs of cylinders. The piston rod 9 is provided with the cross link 9, and the ends of this cross link have bearings within the journals upon the rings 35 and The section 5 of the power shaft is made hollow some distance back from the inner P end thereof, and it is through this hollow shaft section that the fuel is supplied to the various cylinders, as will hereinafter be described. The outer end of the journal box 3 is provided with an annular chamber 38 to which fuel may be admitted through atube 39 that projects from the side of the journal box (see Fig. 2). Communication is established between the chamber 38 and the interior of the shaft section 5 through the ports 4L0. A hollow spacer or liner 41 occupies the chamber 38 and is provided with a hole adapted to register with the tube 39. This spacer is employed for the purpose of' confining packing material at each end thereof. A nut 42 is threaded upon the outer end of the journal box 3 and is provided with a gasket 13. The follower 14 assists in securing the packing material in place. By setting up on the nut 42, the packing material and gasket are pressed about the power shaft, and all leakage of the fuel about the same is prevented.

A hollow casting 45 is screwed or otherwise secured upon the end of the shaft sec tion 5f inside the spider 8, said casting having three hollow arms radiating therefrom. The outer ends of these arms are provided with hollow, arc-shaped members 50 which extend far enough to connect the inlet ports radiate from the power shaft at the of two adjacent cylinders; and it is through thepassageways within the casting and the member that communication is establishedbetween the hollow shaft section 5 and the cylinders. I v

I will now proceed to describe the spark ing device employed in connection with my engine. Each cylinder is provided with a pair of diametrically arranged hollow bosses projecting from the sides of their outer ends, and these bosses are adapted to receive the spark plugs 54, which plugs may be of any approved type; One of the spark plugs is connected to a battery, while the other depends upon a magneto for its current. These two methods of generating the sparking current are employed in order to assure a current at all times, as it is quite improbable that both should fail to work at the same time.

Encircling portions of the journal boxes 2 and 3, which portions are concentric to the center of the power shaft, are straps 55, to which are secured arms 56. These arms same their these angle, and they are tiedtogether at outer ends by a rod 57. Securedto arms, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 10 of the drawings, are sectors 58. Nearfitheir outer ends the arms 56 are provided with cross members 59, through the ends of which project porcelain plugs 60. These plugs are provided with flanges 61 intermediate their ends, and these flanges are adapted to be clamped between the ends of the cross members 59 and plates 62. These plates 62are of similar shape to the cross members 59 and are secured to the arms '56 in any suitable manner, as by rivets'63.i Rods 6e project longitudinally through the porcelain plugs -and through the sectors 58. By upsetting the ends of the rods 64, the sectors 58 are securely attached to the porcelain plugs',a-nd electrical connection between the sectors and rods is secured. It will be understood, .of course, that any insulating material may be employed in place ofthe porcelain herein specified for the plugs 60, but we find it convenient and effective to use the ordinary porcelain plugs for this purpose. Secured to the spark plugs 5 on the engine cylinders are spring brushes65. These brushes are provided with holes at their ends adjacent the spark plugs and are attached to the plugsin the same manner that; wires are ordinarily secured thereto; that is, by ex tending the binding posts of the plugs through the holes inthe brushes and then setting the thumb nut tightly against the latter.

In accordance with the usual practice, the engine forms one side of the electric circuit. The current in the other side of the circuit is-conducted through the wire 66, which is attached to one of the plugs-carried by the arms 56, throughthis plugto the sector 58, and'thence to the spark plug 5a through the brush 65 carried thereby. It will be understood, of course, that the sectors are formed on an arc of a radius equal to the d1stance between the center of the power shaft and the spark plug, so that the brushes will travel the full length of the sectors while in contact therewith; and, in-order to prevent arcing of the current when the brushes leave the ends of the sectors, the latter are made of suliicient length to span the distance between the spark plugs of two'adjacent cylinders, whereby, slightly before the circuit through the brush which is in advance is broken, it is established through the brush of the next the arms 56 and the sectors 58 associated therewith may be swung from one side of the vertical center'of the engine to the other,

- and it is through this adjustment that the sparking of .theengine is controlled. For;

instance, assuming that th'e engineis rotating in the direction indicated by arrow. A in Fig. 1, and the sparking device is in the position shown therein, the spark may be ad vanced by moving the lever to the left. -lonversely, by moving the lever to the right, the spark may be retarded. As the cross as Y' arms 9 of the piston rods are at the high point position on the eccentrics, only'a very slight movement to the left from the position shown in Fig. 1, may be permitted for the. further advancement of the'spark, since a comparatively shortmovement in that di rection would reverse the direction of rotation of, the engine, except when running rapidly when a much wider-range of movement is permissible. The lever 70'is proprovided with alatch of ordinary contsruction which cooperates with notches in the segment'72 to hold'the lever inany desired Position." 1

The oil for the lubrication of thevar'ious cylinders and their respective'piston rods is supplied throughxthe shaft section 5; This shaft section is provided with six longitudinalbores 80 extending from the inner end confined within this chamber is a bushing 82, the same surrounding the shaft section 5 and belng provided on its interior wlth annular recesses 88. These annular recesses communicate with the longitudinal ports through short radiating passageways 84 in the shaft section. various annular recesses through 'oilholes Oil is supplied to the (iii bushing.

shaft sections, and these ports are tapped for the reception of tubes 87. Each of these tubes passes outwardly and is tapped into the wall of one of the cylinders for the purpose of supplying the lubricant for the pis ton therein.

It will be noticed that there are seven annular recesses 83 within the bushing 82. of these recesses have communication with the bores 80, and one has communication with a bore 88 that extends parallel with the bores and through the center of the shaft. This bore 88 supplies the oil to a manifold 89 that is secured upon the inner end of the shaft, from which manifold radiate tubes 90 for conducting the lubricating oil to the piston rods of the various cylinders. These tubes are tapped into the heads 20 of the cylinders and register with ports 91 formed within said cylinder heads. These ports 91 communicate at their inner ends with annular recesses 92 surrounding the piston rods.

For the purpose of facilitating the cooling of the engine, I prefer to inclose the same in a casing provided with a central inlet and a peripheral outlet. This casing may be conveniently formed of two segmental sections 93 and 94:, the segments being secured to the frame members 1 for the engine. The central openings of the casing will preferably be of a little greater diameter than the perforated or spider portion of the rings which support the cylinders, the periphery of'one of such central openings being in dicated by the dotted line 95 in Fig. 1. The casing will be provided with a tangentially arranged peripheral discharge outlet 96. The rotation of the cylinders within the casing formed by the sections 93 and 9% causes a draft of air through. the central openings of the casing which air draft efficiently cools the cylinders, and is then dischar ed through the outlet 96. This construction, together with the arrangement of the discharge ports 19 for each cylinder, provides an efficient muffler.

Hydrocarbon mixture is admitted through the hollow shaft section 5, through the radiating arms of the casting a5 and the passageways within the member 50 to the various cylinders. When the piston in cylinder 9 is in the position shown in Fig. 3, the mixture is admitted to the inner end of the cylinder; and, upon the rotation of the cylinders of the engine, the mixture is compressed and forced into the by-pass 13.

Here the mixture is confined until the piston has passed the admission port 15, when it rushes into the outer end of the cylinder throughsaid port. Upon the continued rotation of the cylinders of the engine, the

piston travels toward the outer end of the cylinder and compresses the mixture be tween it and the head of the cylinder. The mixture thus compressed within the cylinder is ignited when the brushes upon the spark plugs come into contact with the sectors 58, an d the explosion drives the piston forward. As the piston is forced toward the center of the engine, the cross member secured to the piston rod will rotate the rings in which it has its bearing about the eccentrics 4iand l. Since the eccentrics are stationary, the cylinders are compelled thus to rotate; -and, as the cylinders are secured to the pow: shaft, the latter is rotated therewith.

When the piston has reached the inner end of its stroke and uncovered the ports 15 and 19, a new charge, which in the meantime has been admitted to and compressed within the inner end of the cylinder and the bypass 13, rushes into the outer end of the cylinder, filling the same and scavenging it of its burnt 'ases, expelling them through the exhaust port 19. Similar operations follow in rapid succession, within the various cylinders of the engine, each cylinder exploding once at each rotation of the drive shaft.

For the purpose of resisting the side th-ust on the piston rod and'piston, produced by the revolution of the cylinders, I provide each cylinder with a pair of rollers 97, said rollers being mounted on rods 98, said rods being supported by brackets 99 carried by the inner head casting 20 of the cylinder. These rollers are concaved, as shown and the sleeves 21 are cut away or slotted to permit the concaved surfaces of the rollers to reach and touch the piston rod. The employment of somewhat similarly arranged idlers for this purpose is disclosed and claimed in my copending application filed August 16, 1909, Serial No. 512,952.

Various changes may be made in the de tails of the invention herein described without departing from the spirit thereof, and I do not confine myself to the exact construction shown except where specifically so limited in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a rotary engine, the combination, 'with a main frame, of a pair of alined shaft sections journaled in said frame, a member for and secured to the inner end of each of said shaft sections, a pair of opposed engine cylinders secured to said members, a piston rod common to the said pair of cylinders, a stationary eccentric secured to the main frame, and connections between the piston rod and said eccentric such that the reciprocation of the piston causes the cylinders to revolve and the shaft to rotate. 7 i

2. In a rotary engine, the combination,

with a main frame, of a pair of alined shaft and connections betweenthe piston rods and said eccentrics such that the operation of the engine causes the cylinders to revolve and the main shaft sections to rotate.

3. In a rotary explosive engine, the combination, with a main frame, of a pair of alined shaft sections journaled in said frame, a spider for and secured to the inner end of each of said shaft sections, a plurality of pairs of opposed engine cylinders secured to and carried by said spiders, apiston rod for and common to each pair of cylinders, a cross arm connected with each piston rod, a pair of stationary eccentrics mounted on the frame, one on each side of the piston rods, and eccentric straps surrounding each eccentric, there being one of said straps connected with each end of each cross arm, as and for the purpose specified.

4:. In a rotary explosive engine, the com bination, with a main frame, of a pair of alined shaft sections yournaled 1n said frame,

a spider for and secured to the inner end ofeach of said shaft sections,a plurality of pairs of opposed engine cylinders secured to and carried by said spiders, a piston rod for and common to the cylinders in each pair, a

cross arm connected with each piston rod, a pair of stationary eccentrics mounted on the frame, one 011 each side of the piston rods, eccentric straps surrounding each eccentric,

. there being one of said straps connected with each end of each of the cross arms, and meansconnected with one of the shaft sections for furnishing the explosivemixture to the cylinders.

5. In a rotary engine, the combination, with a main frame, of a pair of alined shaft sections journaled in said frame, said shaft sections being spaced apart, a member for and secured to theinner'end of each shaft section, a plurality of engine cylinders arranged in pairs between the said members, the cylinders of each pair being oppositely disposed, a pair of bosses on each engine cylinder, said bosses being secured to the said members, wherebythe engine cylinders are rigidly connected with the shaft sections, the bosses on the several pairs of cylinders varying in length so as to place the cylinders in different transverse planes, a'piston rod for each pair of cylinders, eachof said I rods being common to the two cylinders of a pair, a stationary eccentric-at one side of the engme, and connectionsbetweensaid eccentric and each piston rod, as and for the pu pose specified a 6; In a rotary engine, thexcombinati'on,

with a'mainframe, of a pair of alined shaft sections journaledin said frame, said shaft sections being-spaced apart, a member for and secured to the inner end of eachshaft. section, a plurality of engine cylinders arranged in pairs between the said members,

ethe'cylinders of each pairjbeing diametri= cally opposed, a pairof bosses on each jenfgine cylinder, said bosses being secured to the said 1nembers, whereby; the engine cylinders are rigidly connected with the shaft sections, the bosses on the several-pairs of cylinders varying in length so as to, place the cylinders in different transverse planes,

' a piston rod for eachvp'air of cylinders, each of said rods being common to the two cyllnders of a pa1r,-a cross-arm oneach P18130117 rod, a stationary eccentric at each side of; the

engine, and connections between'each eccentric and the corresponding endof eachcross arm, as and for the purpose specified.

7 In a rotary engine, the combination, with a main frame, of a pair of alined shaft sections journaled in the said frame, the

and secured to the inner end ofeach shaft said sections being spaced apart, a spider for section, a plurality ofpairs ofopposed engine cylinders between the said. spiders, a I

pair of bosses projecting fromeach; cylinder, means for attaching the bosses'to the said spiders, the said bosses on the' diiferent pairs of cylinders being of different lengths, whereby the cylinders are spaceddifierently bet'weenthe spiders, a'pi'ston I'rod for each pair of cylinders, said roolse-xtending across the line of the shaft sections, a. cross arm for each piston rod, a-pair-of stationary eccentrics mounted on the 'main frame, and an eccentrlcstrap forand secured to each end of each cross rod, sa1d straps surrounding their respective eccentrics, for the purpose specified. p I

8. In a rotary eng ne, the'combinatron vwith a main frame,of a'pair. of alined shaft sections ournaled 1n the said frame, the said sections being vspaced apart,'a spider for. and secured to the inner end of each shaft section, "a plurality of pairs of opposedlengine cylinders between the-saidspiderspa pair of bosses projecting from each cylinder, means for attachingthe bossesgto the said spiders, the "said bosses on the different pairs of cylinders being of different lengths,

whereby the cylinders a're spaced differently ,bination, with a main frame, of a pair of journal boxes secured to said frame, said boxes being in alinement, a shaft journaled in saidboxes, a pair of spaced members secured to said shaft, a pair of opposed engine cylinders secured to said members, a piston rod common to said cylinders and extending between said members, a stationary eccentric mounted on the frame, connections between the piston rod and the eccentric such that the reciprocation of the rod causes the cylinders to revolve, and means for introducing an explosive mixture to the cylinders. 10. In a rotary explosive engine, the combination, with a main frame, of a pair of journal boxes secured to said frame, said boxes being in alinement, a shaft journaled in said boxes, a pair of spaced members secured to said shaft, a pair of opposed engine cylinders secured to said members, a piston rod common to said cylinders, a cross arm on each piston rod, a pair of stationary eccentrics mounted on the frame, there being an eccentric on each side of the piston rod, connections between each end of the cross arm and the corresponding eccentric such that the reciprocation of the rod causes the cylinders to revolve, and means for introducing an explosive mixture to the cylinders.

11. In a rotary explosive engine, the combination, with a main frame, of a pair of alined shaft-sections journaled in the said frame, a pair of opposed engine cylinders secured to said shaft sections so as to revolve inan orbit as the shaft sections rotate, a piston rod common to said cylinders, means cooperating with said rod to cause the cylinders to rotate as the rod reciprocates, and means for feeding an explosive mixture to said cylinders through one of said shaft sections. I

12. In a rotary explosive engine, the combination, with a main frame, of a pair of journal boxes secured in alinement to said frame, a shaft section journaled in each of said boxes, one of said sections being provided with a longitudinal bore, an engine cylinder rigidly connected with the inner ends of the shaft sections, a piston rod for the said cylinder, a stationary eccentric mounted on the main frame, an eccentric strap connected with the piston rod and surrounding the'eccentric, and means for introducing an explosive mixture through one of the journal boxes and through the bore of the shaft section to the cylinder.v

13. In a rotary explosive engine, the combination, with a main frame, of a pair of journal boxes secured in alinement to said frame, a shaft section journaled in each of said boxes, one of said sections being provided with a longitudinal bore, a pair of opposed engine cylinders secured to the inner ends of the shaft sections, a piston rod common to the said cylinders, a cross arm secured to the piston rod, a pair of stationary eccentrics, said eccentrics being secured to the respective journal boxes, an eccentric strap for and secured to each end of the cross arm, said straps surrounding the respective eccentrics, and means for introducing an explosive mixture through one of the 'ournal boxes and throu h the bore of the shaft section to the engine cylinders.

14. In a rotary explosive engine, the combination, with a main frame, of a pair of stationary ournal boxes mounted in alinement on said'frame, a shaft section journaled in each of said journal boxes, one of said sections being hollow and the journal box for that section being spaced from th shaft section near one of the ends of the latterto form a chamber for the explosive mixture, a spider for and secured to the inner end of each of the shaft sections, an engine cylinder secured between the said spiders so as to revolve in an orbit as the shaft sections rotate, a piston rod for the cylinder, a stationary eccentric, an eccentric strap surrounding said eccentric, means connecting the eccentric strap with the piston rod, the construction being such that as the piston rod reciprocates the engine cylinder will be revolved and theshaft sections rotated, a hollow arm secured to the hollow shaft section, and a member secured to the outer end of the hollow arm, said member having a passage therein communicating with the hollows in the arm and shaft section and with the admission port in the en gine cylinder, and means for admitting explosive mixture to the space within the said journal box about the hollow shaft.

15. In a. rotary explosive engine, the combination, with a main frame, of a pair of stationary journal boxes mounted in aline ment on said frame, a shaft section journaled in each of said journal boxes, one of said sections being hollow and the journal box for that section being spaced from the shaft section near one of the ends of the latter, a spider for and secured to the inner end of each of the shaft sections, a pair of opposed cylinders secured between the said spiders so'that the cylinders revolve in an orbit as the shaft sections rotate, a piston rod common to the pair of cylinders, a cross arm secured to the piston rod and project ing beyond the spiders, an eccentric secured to each of the journal boxes, an eccentric strap surrounding each eccentric and secured to the crossarm, the construction being such that as the piston rod reciprocates the engine cylinders will be revolved and the shaft sections rotated, a hollow arm secured to the hollow shaft section, and an arcshaped member secured to the outer end of the hollow arm, said member having passages therein communicating with the hollow in the arm and shaft section and with the admission ports in the engine cylinders, and means for admitting explosive mixture tothe space within the-said journal box about the hollow shaft.

' 16. In a rotary explosive engine, the combination, with a main frame, of a stationary journal box secured to said frame, a shaft journaled in said box, said shaft being hollow at its center and being spaced from its journal box near onelend ofthe latter so as to form a chamber for the explosive mixture, a. stationary eccentric, a spider secured to said shaft, an engine cylinder secured to the said spider, a piston rod for the engine cylinder, an eccentric strap surrounding said eccentric, said strap-being connected with the piston rod, a hollow arm extending outwardly from the shaft, a member on the outer end of the hollow arm, said member being provided with a passage for the explosive mixture, said passage being adapted to register with the admission port of the cylinder, and means for introducing the explosive mixture to the said chamber in the journal box, whereby said mixture is conducted from. said box through the hollow shaft and the arm thereon and through the said member to the cylinder.

1.7. In a rotary explosive engine, the com bination, with a. main frame, of a pair of' stationary journal boxes secured .in aline ment to said frame, a shaft section for and journaled in each of said boxes, one of said shaft sections being hollow at its center and being spaced from its journal box near one end of the latter so as ,to form a. chamber for the explosive mixture, an eccentric secured to each of said journal boxes, a spider secured to each of said shaft sections, a pair of opposed en ine cylinders secured to and between. the said spiders, a piston rod con mon to the two engine cylinders, a cross arm secured to the piston rod and having its ends projecting opposite the said eccentrics, an eccentric strap surrounding each eccentric, each of said straps being secured to the cross arm, a hollow arm extending outwardly from the hollow shaft, an arc shaped'memher on the outer end of the hollow said member being provided with passages for theie-xplosive mixture, said passages being adapted to register with the admission. ports of the cylinders, and means for introduc ing the explosive mixture to the said chamber in the journal box, whereby said mixture is conducted from said box through the hollow shaft and the arm tiereon and through the said member to the cylinders.

18. In a rotary explosive engine, the C011? bination, with a main frame; of a stationadmitting mixture to said chamber, a spider secured to the shaft, a plurality of pairs of opposed engine cylinders secured to said spider, a piston rod for each pair of cylinders, an armconnected with each piston rod, an. eccentric strap for and.connected With each of said arms, the straps surrounding the said. eccentric, a member secured to the inner end of the shaft, said member having a plurality of hollow arms extending therefrom, the interior of said arms communicating with the interior of the hollow shaft, and an arc-shaped member secured to the outer end'of each of said ,hollow arms, said arc-shaped members having passages therethrough for conducting the explosive mixture to the'engine cylinders.

19. In a rotary explosive engine, the com bination, with a main frame, of apair of stationary journal boxes secured in alinement to said, frame, a stationary eccentric secured to each journal box, a shaft section for and journaled in each of said boxes, one of said sections being hollow and closed at its outer end, said-latter section being spaced from its journal box near one end of the latter so as to form a'chamber about the.-

end of each of said crossarms, the straps at the respective endsof the arms surroundingthe respective eccentric, a member secured to the'inner end of the hollow shaft, said member having a plurality of hollow arms extending therefrom, the interior of said arms communicating with the inter or of the hollow shaft section, and an arc shaped-member secured to the outer end of each of'said hollow arms,said' arc-shaped members having passages therethroughfor conductingthe explosive mixture to theen- T I 1 i gine cylinders.

20. In a rotary explosive engine, the com bination, with a main frame, of a shaft ournaled n said frame, a member secured to said shaft, apair of opposed engine cylin-- ders secured to'said member" so as to revolve in an orbit as the shaft rotates, apiston in each of sald cylinders, the piston'rods for said pistons being rigidly connected together, a stationary eccentric, means connecting said eccentric with the piston rods so as to cause the cylinders to revolve and thus rotate the shaft as the said rods reciprocate, means for introducing an explosive mixture to the cylinders at one side of the pistons therein whereby the mixture is compressed as the pistons move toward the mixture, a by-pass for each cylinder connecting the compression end thereof with the opposite end of the cyiinder, and means for igniting the mixture in the said opposite end of the cylinders.

21. In a rotary explosive engine, the combination, with a main frame, of a shaft journaled in stationary bearings on said frame, a member secured to said shaft, a pair of opposed engine cylinders secured to said member, pistons in said cylinders, means rigidly connecting said pistons, means for introducing explosive mixture to said cylinders, devices cooperating with the connecting means between the pistons for causing the member and cylinders to revolve as the pistons reciprocate, a spark plug connected with each cylinder, a segment mounted for movement about the said shaft, said segment forming part of an electric circuit, means for moving said segment to vary the spark or reverse the engine, and brushes connected with the said spark plugs, said brushes being adapted to wipe over the said segments as the engine cylinders revolve.

In a rotary explosive engine, the combination, with a main frame, of a pair of alined shaft sections journaled in said frame, a spider for and connected with each of said shaft sections, a plurality of pairs of opposed engine cylinders secured to said spiders, a piston rod for and common to each pair of opposed cylinders, means cooperating with the said piston rods for causing the cylinders to revolve as the rods reciprocate, a spark plug connected with each cylinder, a segment mounted for pivotal movement about one of the shaft sections, said segment forming a part of the sparking circuit, and brushes carried by the said spark plugs, said brushes contacting with the segment as the cylinders revolve.

23. In a rotary explosive engine, the com bination, with a main frame, of a shaft journaled in said frame, a spider secured to said shaft, a pair of opposed engine cylinders secured to said spider, a piston rod common to said cylinders, means cooperating with said piston rod for causing the cylinders to revolve as the piston rod reciprocates, means for'introducing explosive mixture to the cylinders, a spark splug forand attached to each cylinder, an arm pivoted concentrically with the shaft, means for swinging said arm and for locking the same in its set position, a segment carried by the free end of said arm, said segment comprising part of the sparking circuit, and a brush for and attached to each spark plug, said brushes being adapted to wipe over the segment as the cylinders revolve, for the purpose specified.

24. In a rotary explosive engine, the combinationwith a main frame, of a shaft journaled in said frame, a spider secured to said shaft, a pair of opposed engine cylinders secured to said spider, a piston rod common to said cylinders, means cooperating with said piston rod for causing the cylinders to revolve as the piston rod reciprocates,means for introducing explosive mixture to the cylinders, a pair of spark plugs for and attached to each cylinder at diametrically opposite points thereon, an arm pivoted concentrically with the shaft at each side of the engine, means'joining said arms together, means for swinging said arms, a segment for and carried by the free end of each of said arms, said segments comprising parts of two independent sparking circuits, and a brush for and attached to each spark plug, said brushes being adapted to wipe over the respective segments as the cylinders revolve, for the purpose specified.

25. In a rotary explosive engine, the combination, with a main frame, of a pair of shaft sections journaled in said frame, a spider for and attached to each shaft section, a plurality of engine cylinders secured to said spiders, said cylinders being arranged in opposed pairs, a piston rod for each pair of cylinders, eccentrics mounted on the main frame on opposite sides of the cylinders, connections between each eccentric and each piston rod, means for introducing explosive mixture to said cylinders, an arm pivoted coaxially with the shaft sections, a segment carried by the free end of said arm, said segment forming part of an electric circuit, a spark plugrattached to each engine cylinder, a brush for and attached to each spark plug so as to wipe over "the segment as the cylinders revolve, a pivoted hand lever, and means connecting the lever and the arm carrying the segment, whereby the latter may be varied in position so as to change the spark-or reverse the engine.

26. In a rotary explosive engine, the con bination with a main frame, of a pair of shaft sections journaled in saidframe, a spider for and attached to each shaft section, a plurality of engine cylinders secured to said spiders, said cylinders being arranged in opposed pairs, a piston rod for each pair of cylinders, eccentrics mounted on the main frame on opposite sides of the cylinders, connections between each eccentric and each piston rod, means for introducing explosive mixture to said cylinders, an arm for and pivoted coaxially with each of the shaft sections, a rod connecting said arms, a segment carried by the free end of each of said arms, said segments forming parts of two independent electric circuits, a pair of spark plugs attached to each engine cylinder at shaft supported by said frame, said frame having a pair of opposed eccentrics thereon, said eccentrics being spaced apart, a strap for each eccentric, a, pair of opposed cylinders carried by said shaft, a piston in each cylinder, a piston rod common to and connecting both pistons,"and a cross bar carried by said piston rod and having its opposite ends journaled to said eccentric straps.

28. The combination, with a frame, of a shaft journaled in said frame, a pair of opposed spaced eccentrics carrled by said frame, an eccentric strap for each GCOBIItIlC,

a pair of opposed cylinders carried by said shaft 'a iston for each cVlinder. a iston P P rod common to and connecting both pistons and located between said eccentrics, across 7 bar carried by said piston rod',and a connection between said cross bar and said eccentric straps arranged to allow an oscillating movement of the cross bar.

29. The combination, with a frame, of a shaft journaled in said frame, a pair of eccentrics'mounted on said frame, an eccentric strap for each eccentric, a pair of opposed cylinders carried by said shaft, a piston in each cylinder, a piston rod common to and connecting said pistons and extending between said eccentrics, and a cross bar carried by said piston rod, said cross bar having its opposite ends journaled to the eccentric straps and having its intermediate portion offset toward the shaft. I

80. In a rotary explosive engine, the combination, with a mainframe, of a shaft journaled in said frame, a pairv of, members secured to the shaft, a pair of opposed engine cylinders secured to said members, a piston rod common to the said pair of cylinders, a stationary eccentric secured to the main frame, and connections between the piston rod and said eccentric such that the operation of the engine causes the cylinders to revolve and the shaft to rotate.

31 In a rotary explosive engine, the com bination, with a main frame, of a shaft journaled in said frame, a pair of spiders secured to said shaft, a. plurality of pairs of opposed engine cylinders secured toan'd carried by said spiders, a piston rod for and commonto the cylinders in each pair andsextending between said spiders, a cross arm connected with each piston rod, a pair of stationary eccentrics mounted on the frame, one on each s1de of the piston rod, and an eccentric strap surrounding each eccentric and connected to opposite ends of. each cross arm.

32. In a rotary-explosive engine, the combination, with a main .frame,-of a shaft ournaled insaid frame, a pair of members secured to said shaft and spacedapart, a plurality of engine cylinders arranged in pairs between thesaid members, the cylinders of each pair being oppositely disposed, a pair of bosses or projections on each engine cylinder, said bosses or projections being secured to the said members, whereby the engine cylinders are rigidly connected'with the shaft, the bosses o-r projections on the several pairs of cylinders varying in length so as to place the cylinders in different transverse planes, a piston rod for each pair of cylinders and common to the two cylinders ofa pair, a stationary eccentric, and

connections between said eccentric and each I piston rod. V

In testimony whereof, hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

I It. PALMER.

Witnesses: I I V J. B. HULL, v E. R. CAsPELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

